Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-29


The negotiations concerning the fisheries now
supposed 20 be progressing In solemn secrecy at
Washington give " the subject certain local
interest. The decay Of our own Potomac fisheries
has deprived the city OF its former greatness as
headquarters OF handlers OF the seine, Dut the
interest which formerly attached TO the grew
anees Of our takers OF shad may be readily imag-
fned As transferred 10 the nard5hps OF the takers
OF col though suffered hundreds OF miles away.
The controversy between the United states and
Great Britain over the Canadian fisheries, which
Is TO De settled possible by the present negotia
tons Is OF sufficiently long standing to have an
ancient and appropriately nsh-iike smell Omit
ting the more antiquated phases OF the dispute,
the controversy, far as IL affects fishing rights
deals especially with the British "headland
theory OF measuring the three miles from shore
over which British jurisdiction extends, and the
proper construction OF the treaty OF 1918, which
gives to Americans the liberty to take dry or cure
nsh within certain waters under British
Jurisdiction, and shuts them out from
the other inshore fisheries, but admits
them 10 bays and harbors for the pur-
pose Of shelter and repairing damage therein,
OF purchasing wood and OF obtaining water and
for no other purpose whatever. But the American
fishermen now claim that the main question is not
one OF fishing rights; that the value TO them Of
the inshOre fisheries from which they are shut out
Is, however the three miles may be measured, IN
significant; and that the controversy In It's new
shape is whether Canadians shall be permitted 10
enforce IN a barbarous fashion the unfriendly re-
sfrictions which. for instance, prevent American
fishermen who catch cod on the banks OF New
foundland several hundred miles from Canada,
from running into Canadian port to transship
their cargo or TO buy bait or supplies to continue
onshOre fishing. A new kind OF hardship Is also
pointed out In the fact that the denial of shore
and other privileges has been very recently ex-
tended even TO the ports and waters Of New
foundlapd and Magdalen Islands In which Amer
leans were expressly granted the liberty to nsh.
Hitherto 1t has been understood that the liberty
TO nsh within certain waters carries with 1t the
incidental privilege Of procuring bait, supplies,
&C., within those waters. Another specimen
grievance Is found In the unreasonable Canadian
laws regulating the seizure Of American vessels.
Such seizures encouraged by the OFFER OF about
half the prize 70 the captor, ana the American Is
so hampered BY restrictions that he has little re-
dress even where the capture Is palpably Illegal
At the very start the Canadian law puts upon him
the burden OF proof OF the iegality Of the seizure
From the point OF view Of our fishermen the ques-
ton Is one rather OF International comfy and hos
pitality the observance OF the decencies of civil
he'd life By supposed friendly nation, than Of
dispu'ed fishing nghta IL was TO meet the bar
barous and hostile treatment OF American vessels,
not n1ning Illegally but offending, II at all, only
against some unf1endly Canadian law or
customs regulation, hastily and unreasonably
construed, that the retaliation act was threatened
and passed. The present negotiations may show
that o settlement can be reached upon the head.
Land theory, ana that the limits British Juris-
oction over the fnshore fisheries can be definitely
agreed upon. But the task of overturning the
narrow and arbitrary Canadian Interpretation OF
the treaty OF 1918, the hostile and unreasonable
laws and customs regulations aimed at our fisher.
men by Canada, and especially the inhospitable
and brutal policy OF Canadian officials In enforcing
this legislation, is more dificult task The United
States cannot afYord to concede much TO secure
that decent treatment from a neighbor to which
she Is entitled without concessions.
The members Of the English parliament now In
this country, VINO are engaged in the commenda-
bic work OF convincing US that arbitration should
be SUBSTITUTED for war, make a single exception to
The universally OF their peace principles by de-
ciaring war without quarter against the deadly
American Joke. They have ventured upon A
series OF grapples with this strange and formida-
BILE antagonist and candor, not less than patriotic
pride prompts the statement that they could not
nave been knocked out more promptly and COM
pletely oy that other peculiarly American
product, the Hon. John l. sullivan. The first
round took place when one OF the Englshmen
butted blindly against a Jocose alusfon Of
Cnauncey Depew in his speech at the recent New
York banquet, and solemnly protested against
being misunderstood and misrepresented. Round
No. occurred at the same time and place when
the understanding Of this same protesting English
man grappled Intellectually with the suggestion
that he "ouy steam drill Round No came or at
Camden last night, when the audience after hear.
ting the arbitration speeches OF the visitors and
adopting the usual whereases and resolyeds
added 8 resolution earnestly urging that the
principles OF arbitration be adopted by England
In the settlement Of difficulties with down-trodden
Ireland. as q means OF correcting "the shameful
abuses that are being heaped upon defenseless
Irish tenants under cover OF the iniQuitous coer
eion law Our unhappy visitors are beginning to
LOOK upon the American Joke as q dreadful ogre
which hunts its prey with the traditional blood
CURLING cry:
.Fe-fo-n-fuml
srael the blood OF an Englishman!p
Baltimore and Ohio stock fell yesterday from lis
70 1O4 and closed weak. In this way the stock
OPERATORS express their distrust OF the recent an
nuai statement with It's exhibit OF millions OF sur